A former Schuylkill County police officer and candidate for Sheriff is accused of stalking and harassing multiple people, including his ex-wife, and illegally accessing a restricted law enforcement database after being terminated from his job as a cop.
Investigators with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office allege Douglas Litwhiler, 41, of Catawissa, used his credentials to conduct 21 background and vehicle searches in a law enforcement database between Oct. 4 and Nov. 4, 2025.
In 2021, Litwhiler was the Republican candidate for Schuylkill County Sheriff. He previously worked for several municipal police departments in the area, too.
Litwhiler has been charged with 21 third-degree felony counts of unauthorized access of a computer system and misdemeanor counts of stalking and official oppression, as well as 4 summary counts of harassment.
He was arraigned Wednesday before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker, who set bail at 10% of $25,000, which Litwhiler has already posted. A preliminary hearing is currently scheduled for April 15 before Judge Edward Tarantelli.
Twenty of those allegedly illegal searches – conducted on JNET and PennDOT databases – occurred after he was terminated from his police job in East Union Township on Oct. 6, the AG’s Office says. Searches reportedly targeted a man he is accused of stalking, that man’s license plates, and a contractor working for Litwhiler’s ex-wife, investigators say. Litwhiler was not authorized to use the system at the time, and the searches were not related to official police business, investigators add. The one search he allegedly conducted while still employed was related to his ex-wife, investigators say.
One victim, who is employed as a corrections officer, told investigators Litwhiler began following him around Oct. 4. The victim said Litwhiler followed him to work, his children’s school, restaurants, and bars while driving a blue Dodge pickup truck. On Nov. 4, Litwhiler followed the victim and his children closely in his truck all the way to their home, he told investigators. The victim provided the AG’s Office with photos and doorbell camera videos showing the truck driving past his residence approximately 20 times.
The victim’s wife also reported harassment, saying she received numerous text messages from Litwhiler regarding her husband’s and Litwhiler’s ex-wife’s activities and locations. She told investigators she asked Litwhiler to leave her alone, but observed him on a doorbell camera driving past her house two or three times a day beginning in October. She provided investigators with screenshots of the text messages.
Litwhiler’s ex-wife told investigators Litwhiler drove past her house multiple times between January and February of this year, too. She also reported receiving text messages from him despite an active no-contact order issued between the two parties in January, the Attorney General’s Office says.
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